Gas-industry group: NY’s hydrofracking rules ‘unjustified’

In today’s Gannett newspapers, we took a look at a lengthy, strongly worded letter from the Independent Oil & Gas Association that blasts the state’s proposed hydrofracking requirements, estimating they would cost companies an additional $1 million per well to drill in New York compared to other states.

IOGA Executive Director Brad Gill wrote to Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens in September (Gov. Andrew Cuomo also was sent a copy), saying many of the agency’s proposals are far too respective and “do not send the signal that New York state is ‘open for business.”’

“No other industry operating within New York, even though possibly impacting the environment to a greater extent than the oil and gas industry, will be burdened by these unjustified, excessive and inequitable rules, regulations, requirements, mitigation measures, permit conditions and access restrictions,” Executive Director Brad Gill wrote.

In particular, Gill takes issue with many of the prohibitions and setbacks included in the DEC’s 1,500 pages of recommendations, including a ban on surface drilling in the New York City and Syracuse watersheds.

Here’s Gill’s letter, which is very critical of the DEC recommendations and is the group’s most extensive comments on the document to this point: